Leicestershire cyclists pedal three times around the world in 21 days

Hundreds of workers in Leicestershire cycled over 74,000 miles in the 'Leicester Shire Cycle Challenge 2012' – the equivalent of cycling three times around the world.

Steve Goddard and Debbie Ingelsant who work at Beaumont Shopping Centre

157 people took to a bike for the first time in over a year to help their workplace aim for gold.

The Sales Team at British Gas fielded five new cyclists in the competition. They were encouraged by Chris Law, the team’s Challenge Champion.

“We all found it really enjoyable. It was an adrenalin rush feeling the fresh air, instead of being stuck in the car. Now some people who live nearby are looking to cycle in.”

Chris LawBritish Gas Sales Team

The three week long competition between workplaces in Leicester and Leicestershire aimed to introduce as many new people to cycling as possible. A total of 1,169 people from 74 local businesses and organisations competed to get the greatest percentage of staff taking part.

The challenge set may not have been the Tour de France, but riders made more than 8,000 journeys by bike clocking up 74,000 miles

The 'Leicester Shire Cycle Challenge' encouraged hundreds of people to take to their bikes and discover the joys and benefits of cycling, while doing their bit to help with easing congestion and pollution within the county.

Participants logged their cycling online and a variety of prizes were on offer for individuals and teams, from a hot air balloon ride across Leicestershire to three Raleigh Road bikes from City Cycles and Summer Sundae Festival tickets.

Members of the winning teams will be attending an awards presentation. Winners will also be rewarded with a team prize for their efforts – prizes include cupcakes for the entire office, a day at the races, and a tour of Belvoir Brewery.

• CTC Challenge for Change is a partnership between the CTC’s Charitable Trust and Challenge for Change. CTC is the national cycling charity and Challenge for Change is a social marketing agency specialising in developing behavioural change programmes that get more people cycling more often.

• Leicester City Council has been awarded £4.4 million of funding from the Department for Transport via the Local Sustainable Transport Fund for Leicester Fit for Business. It aims to work with businesses and communities to encourage people to travel by low carbon and active transport.

• The Leicester Shire Cycle Challenge has been delivered as part of Leicester Fit for Business to encourage more people to cycle.

• Between 2008-2011 Challenge for Change delivered 34 Workplace Cycle Challenges and encouraged over 36,000 people to cycle. Overall, they have inspired 10,000 ‘non-cyclists’ to ride again, many after years of not cycling. On average in 2011, 40% of 'non-cyclist' participants continued cycling at least once a week or more, three months after taking part in a Challenge. Furthermore, 12% of car drivers switched to cycling to work as their main mode of transport. For more information see: www.challengeforchange.com

• CTC, the national cycling charity, has 69,000 members, and is the oldest and largest cycling body in the UK. CTC inspires and helps people to cycle and keep cycling, whatever kind of cycling they do or would like to do. Over a century’s experience tells us that cycling is more than useful transport; it makes you feel good, gives you a sense of freedom and creates a better environment for everyone. www.ctc.org.uk